Sunday, June 17, 2007

Picture Post, Sunday June 17, 2007

Happy Father's Day everyone.

I was blessed to have a great Dad, whom we all called Don C., his first name and middle initial. Here's a picture of he and Sainted Mother that I've always liked.

Then later, I had the blessing of my Father in Law in my life. He was a civil engineer and always, always, always put others first.

I've said, and it's still true, I feel like I had two great fathers in my life when so many never had even one. I was blessed to have these men in my life.

There isn't one single day that goes by that I don't think of them, and wish I could talk with them.

Don C., Keith, I love you both still.

Both of my grandfathers were, good men. Both were sweet to us grandkids, and I spent a week or two each summer at each set of grandparent's house.

This next picture is an oldie but goodie of my paternal grandfather and grandmother. We called them Papaw Masters and Mamaw Eunice.
My maternal grandfather, we called Papaw Hinton. He was an auto mechanic and also did mechanic's work on land-based oil pumping machinery that was all over central Louisiana. This is a pic of Papaw Hinton, Big Sis there on the left, and Big Brother there with the sidearm.
My Dad's brother, my Uncle Alden, was also another good man in my life. I usually spent a week with Uncle Alden and his family every summer, and sometimes my cousin Scott would stay with me instead. I loved him dearly, and miss him a lot too. I didn't have any even semi-recent pics of my Uncle Alden that I had scanned, so I'm putting this old one of Uncle Alden (left) with my Dad in their Navy uniforms.
This is one of my all-time favorite photos of my Big Brother. This was taken in approximately 1984, around the time Lovely Wife and I got married. Paul had one daughter, and several step-children.

And last, but certainly not least, is Long Suffering Brother In Law. This old slide I took of he and Big Sis's first son in around 1983. To my knowledge, LSBIL still doesn't have even one lousy gray hair, whereas mine is turning gray at an alarming rate. Thankfully, LSBIL is still with us.

Like I said earlier, I feel like I had two dads, but I've had quite a few really good men in my life.

All have passed away except for my Brother In Law. Hope we have him around a good long time.

I sure miss all of these guys because it's been a long time since their passing. I miss LSBIL due to distance.

Again, Happy Father's day to all.

7 comments:

Carina said...

Happy father's day, JAM.

Glad you have had so many great father-figures to walk you through this crazy life.

Anonymous said...

Waaaaa, Waaaaaa, Waaaaaa! You never fail to make me cry! I was going to try to get through Father's Day without squalling but her I am a blubbering mess first thing this morning! I miss them all so much sometimes it hurts!

Cary is sitting in his new recliner he got for Father's Day right now reading the Sunday paper. Jonathan got him a CD player for his truck!

Happy Father's Day to you too, John, I love you and miss you! Waaaa, waaaaa ,waaaaaa!

photowannabe said...

Your tribute to your Dads and the other men in your life are touching.I like hearing such a positive and passionate feeling.
I miss my Dad too. Last week marked his 21st year since he passed. It still seems like yesterday. the same with my dear father in law. A sweet man with a twinkle in his eye and full of integrity.
My sons have matured into wonderful fathers too.
Last but not least is my wonderful husband. I am truely blessed to have these people in my life.

Travis Cody said...

Happy Father's Day Jam. Wonderful tribute to your father figures.

I have a tough time with this day, fighting jealousy of guys who had present fathers.

But then I remember my coaches and my uncle and my grandfather, and later my stepdad. My biological father was absent, but I'm grateful for the good men who stepped up to fill the void as best they could.

I got lucky.

none said...

With good male role models at such a premium these days you were fortunate to have so many.

You yourself are a great tribute to them.

Sharon Lynne said...

Nice post. You have some great memories of some great people!

Julie said...

WOnderful tribute to the fellas that made you who you are today!